Process and composition for dyeing patterns into plywood wall paneling



July 28-, 1959 J. P, KNEISEL I PROCESS AND COMPOSITION FOR DYEINGPATTERNS INTO PLYWOOD WALL PANELING Filed Aug. 3. 1956 J05EPA/ IN VENTOR.

,4 7'702/VEY5 PROCESS AND COMPOSITION FOR DY EING PAT 'DERNS INTOPLYWOOD WALL PANELING Application August 3, 1956, Serial No. 601,898

7 Claims. (Cl. 8--6.'5)

This invention relates to the production of decorated wood articles andhas particular reference to the dyeing of decorative patterns on woodsurfaces such as plywood wall paneling and the like.

One of the primary objects. of this invention is to provide a novelprocess and novel compositions for the application of dyed patterns towood surfaces.

The decoration of a surface by the use of colored dye is probably one ofthe oldest techniques known to man. Primitive people used the juices ofplants and their fruits for the colored liquids which they used as dyesto permanently adorn the. stone and wood faces of their buildings andimplements. The permanence of this technique has been proven by time inthat, after hundreds and even thousands of years, there are primitiveexamples still in existence which to this day retain their pattern andcolor. The reason for this permanence is due to the fact that the dyeenters the structural pores of the material being dyed and is trappedand protected from deteriorating elements. Thus, the design becomes anintegral element of the substance itself.

Per-manency is not the only quality of dyed materials. Dye does notdestroy the inherent characteristics of the surface or texture of amaterial. For this reason, it not only becomes technically butesthetically a part of the material.

Heretofore, efforts to produce wood paneling decorated with a dyedpattern have been limited to the ancient handapplication method. Manywater and alcohol soluble wood dyes are presently being used for thecoloring of wood on a commercial scale, but all such applicationsutilize dipping or spraying and no attempt is made to confine the colorto any given area or design. Designs have heretofore been painted onwood, but this is not the same as dyeing as the term is used in the art.That is, in the painting process, the pigment remains entirely on thesurface of the wood, without substantial penetration. The patternsobtained by painting are relatively impermanent, but more important,esthetically they are undesirable in that they change the inherentsurface and texture of the wood. In dyeing, on the other hand, the dyepenetrates into the pores of the material, leaving the surfaceunaffected except for the change in color due to the penetration of thedye.

Another object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a process bywhich wood panels may be pattern dyed on a commercial scale.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pattern dyeing processfor wood, which process is simple and can be carried out by relativelyunskilled operators.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of preferredembodiments thereof when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings:

States PatentQ Patented July 28, 1959 ICC The single figure is a planview of a wood panel containing a typical pattern dyed thereon inaccordance with the present invention.

Briefly, this invention comprehends within its scope the discovery thatwood panels can be pattern dyed in commercial quantities by applyingalcohol soluble azo dyestuffs utilizing the silk screen technique.Alcohol solutions of such dyes are of extremely low viscosity and,hence, are unsuitable as such for use in the silk screen process. dyesolutions may be dispersed in a viscous vehicle which makes possible theuse of the silk screen method but which does not affect the properdeposition and adsorption of the dye into the wood. The vehiclecomprises a solution of a resinous material which is compatible with thedye and which. preferably contains cellulose groups. Suitable resinsinclude ethyl cellulose, nitro cellulose, cellulose acetate, ethylhydroxy ethyl cellulose and aceto-butyrate.

Among the azo dyes suitable for use in the process and composition ofthe present invention are the Luxol dyes manufactured by E. I. du Pontde Nemours & Co., and. the Azosol dyes manufactured by GeneralDyestuff'Co., a.division of General Aniline and Film Corp.

A specific example of a dye vehicle used in carrying out the process ofthe invention is as follows:

Parts by weight The ethyl cellulose used was Dow Chemical CompanysEthocell (standard ethoxy type, viscosity type). The plasticizer for theethyl cellulose was Monsanto Chemical Companys Monsanto B-16 Glycollate.The plasticizer is not essential and any other suitable plasticizer may,of course, be used. The ethylene glycol monoethyl ether was utilized asa low vapor pressure solvent for the ethyl cellulose, but it will beunderstood that other solvents may be used. The alcohol and diethyleneglycol monoethyl ether serve as solvents for the dye. Any monohydricalcohol may be used, but those of higher boiling points are preferred.The diethylene glycol monoethyl ether is not absolutely essential, butis important in that it also functions as a wood penetrant.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a limba plywood wall panel,generally indicated 10, produced in accordance with the presentinvention wherein the portions of the pattern identified as 11, 12 and13 were dyed light green, dark green and red, respectively. The specificdye formulations were made up as follows:

Light green Parts by weight 1590 22 The specific dye to make the lightgreen was a blend of 19.6 parts Luxol Fast Yellow G; 1.6 parts LuxolFast Blue G; 0.4 Luxol Black L; and 0.5 part Luxol Fast Red B. Thevehicle in this and the following colors was formulated as set forth inthe above example.

Vehicle Dye Red Parts by weight Vehicle 1360 It has been found, however,that these 111x01 Fast Red B V 12 Luxol Black L 0.2

In dyeing the wood panel 10, three individual silk screens were used,one for each color and corresponding portion of the pattern. The silkscreens were-of the filled type, it having been found that the hand outin'sket type produced designs of relatively poor definition andpenetration when used to apply the composition. a

In preparing the dye compositions, it is preferred to first dissolve theethyl cellulose and plasticizer in the ethylene glycol monethyl etherand to separately dissolve the dye in the alcohol and diethyl glycolmonoethyl ether. The two phases are thus blended together toproduce thefinal solution.

The process of this invention may be used in decorating virtually anytype of wood, but best results are obtained with hard woods such aslimba, mahogany, etc. No pre-treatment of the wood, other than the usualsanding, planing or other smoothing operation, is necessary. It will beunderstood that the proportions of the ingredients in the vehicle-dyecompositions may be varied, depending upon the color and value desired.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I donot wish to be limited to the details set forth, but my invention is ofthe full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of dyeing wood to produce a decorative pattern thereon,comprising the step of silk screening said pattern onto the woodutilizing an azo dye dispersed in a vehicle containing a solution of aresinous material which is compatible with said dye.

2. A method of dyeing wood to produce a decorative pattern thereon,comp-rising the step of silk screening said pattern onto the woodutilizing an azo dye resinous material which is compatible with saiddye.

tion of a1 resinous material which is compatible with said'.

dye.

5. A method for dyeing wood to produce a decorative patten thereon,comprising the step of silk screening said pattern onto the woodutilizing an alcohol solution of an azo dye dispersed in a vehiclecontaining a solution of a cellulosic resinous material which iscompatiblev with said dye. I i

6. A method for dyeing wood to produce a decorative pattern thereon,comprising the step of silk screening said pattern onto the woodutilizing an alcohol solution of an azo dye dispersed in a vehiclecontaining a solution' of ethyl cellulose.

7. .A method for dyeingwood to produce a decorative pattern thereon,comprising the step of silk screening said pattern onto the woodutilizing an azo dye dispersed in a vehicle containing a solution ofethyl cellulose in ethyleneglycol monoethyl ether, isopropyl alcohol,diethylene glycol monoethyl ether and a plasticizer for said ethylcellulose.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,877,748

Dove Sept. 23, 1932 2,000,120 Bussh May 7, 1935 2,188,073 Bucy Jan. 23,1940 2,565,602" Fisher ,.z Aug. 28, 1951-

1. A METHOD OF DYEING WOOD TO PRODUCE A DECORATIVE PATTERN THEREON,COMPRISING THE STEP OF SILK SCREENING SAID PATTERN ONTO THE WOODUTILIZING AN AZO DYE DISPERSED IN A VEHICLE CONTAINING A SOLUTION OF ARESINOUS MATERIAL WHICH IS COMPATIBLE WITH SAID DYE.